Don't rush home upgrades just to get a tax creditThe Washington PostEvery year, for at least the past seven years, Ilyce has had three tax experts come on her show before the end of the year to discuss what's new with regard to taxes and what consumers should look out for. The experts are Bill Nemeth, Chet Burgess and Merry Brodie. They are all enrolled agents (EAs), which are tax preparers who are licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

The kitchen pantry, revisitedNorthJersey.comDo you harbor sweet memories of sneaking into Grandma's pantry to raid the cookie jar? Although our associations with this kitchen feature tend to evoke a bygone era of home-baked goods and preserved foods, it's making a comeback! A recent survey conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association found a walk-in pantry to be one of the most desirable features today.

Tax credits: Which home projects qualify?WRTV-TVBefore launching a new set of resolutions for 2014, make sure to take care of what you can in 2013.
Homeowners might be able to write off certain projects.
Steve Chase’s laundry list of home improvements was necessary, but was it worth the trouble?

Security is key to the future of smart locksNewsFactorSmartphones are no longer phones first and foremost. They've become command centers for the high-tech demands of day-to-day life. Everything from Web browsing and picture-taking to instant messaging and credit card transactions can be done from one little device.

Is the house greener on the other side of the fence?ConsumerAffairsThere have been many strategies to encourage homeowners to make energy improvements to their home, to make it as efficient as possible. There have been tax breaks for high-tech thermostats, insulation and solar panel installations. And then there is the incentive of lower utility bills.

Install an interior prehung door properlySioux City JournalInstalling a prehung door seems like a relatively simple task because the door is already prehung in the frame. Actually, though, it is often done improperly even by professional builders and remodelers. In an existing house, it can be even more difficult than in the new addition because the house may have settled and the walls are not plumb to start with.

How to lower your property tax billMainStreetThe U.S. real estate market may be enjoying a bit of a recovery, but the fact remains that a lot of homeowners still have quite a bit of ground to cover before regaining their home's value lost during the recession.
And that may mean you're paying too much in property taxes. Your annual property tax bill may not truly reflect current – and perhaps lower – local home values.

5 home improvement projects guaranteed to cure the winter bluesSioux City JournalIf you’re dreading the long months of cold weather ahead and the thought of being stuck inside, consider curing cabin fever with some fun, easy and rewarding home improvement projects.
When choosing projects to tackle first, Brian Bolger, suggests focusing on ones that will increase your property value, save money on your utility bills, and, of course, add a smile to your face. Here are five ideas to get you started.